Fourteen students from the U.S., Canada and Western Australia competed in this year’s event. Jain will receive an award of $7,500.

Jain’s project, titled “Engineering Glass Bone Implants to Enhance the Adhesion of Precursor Osteoblast Cells,” looked at whether cells adhere better to rough or smooth surfaces of Bioglass, an implant material that turns into bone over time. Bioglass is used in surgical applications and is commonly found in dental and ear implants.

Jain found that cells adhered better to smoother surfaces, resulting in improved implant performance and mobility.

Students were evaluated not only on the quality of their research and display but also on their responses to questions relating to their scientific knowledge and potential commercial applications of their research.